VBAC vs elective C Section

[HotCupOfNo]

Please can I have your experiences of both?

I am newly pregnant with my second baby. My daughter (22 months) was an EMCS after a failed induction and it was a really horrible birth. I am leaning towards an elective, but am wondering if I really want to avoid another c section recovery which I found very difficult. I had been awake for about 72 hours and in a lot of pain though before my c section and barley slept after, so know this will have a lot to do with it and an elective will be much less traumatic.

Would be very grateful for any help with this!

I have my own thread trying to decide between an elcs or a vaginal birth too so I’m probably not the best person to reply as I can’t decide myself.

But, why did your induction fail last time and why were you induced? (I’ve never been induced)
Was your body not ready to labour yet? Did they do lots of different methods to induce? (Drip, multiple pessaries etc) Were you able to move around or were you on ‘stuck’ on the bed? Do you think you will be very anxious about things going wrong whilst in labour if you decide on a vbac?

I was scheduled in for an elective, but ended up having a VBAC. I found it really hard to decide (which I think the midwives realised so scheduled the section quite late). I did lots of research into the relative merits of each. Only slightly higher risk with c section, but it depends on your recovery. I had an emcs with my first, but I did find the recovery to bad. In the end, I went into labour the morning that I went in for ECS. I had a sweep and then they broke my waters to move it along. The labour and birth mostly went well. I had second degree tearing, but otherwise the recovery was quite quick.

I have a friend who has a very difficult EMCS with her first, and has gone on two have two VBACs. If I do manage to fall pregnant again, once again I’m unsure as to what I would prefer. I did vow during labour that I’d have a c section, but that was before I had the epidural.

“ I had an emcs with my first, but I did find the recovery to bad.”. Mistyped. I mean I didn’t find the recovery too bad. That may just have been luck

@BirthChoice ahh if you could link me to your thread I'd really appreciate it.

I had a large bleed at 37+5 which continued happening, they gave me the option of induction or constant monitoring so we went for induction at 38+2. I had the pessary and made it to 3cm, but then they broke my waters and it all went very downhill. She was back to back and it was horrific, and then I had an epidural and got to 10cm but she got stuck and they wanted to do an instrumental. I said no more straight to c section. I then got two infections in my wound, and then I moved house 5 days later 🤦🏻‍♀️

I’m pregnant with my second and have requested a section. I had a prolonged labour, back to back, failed to progress and emergency section last time. Don’t want to go through that again and have an anterior placenta again.
Recovery wasn’t good bad, I was in for 3 days due to waters going 3 days before section and baby on antibiotics. I then had to travel a long distance 6 days after birth due to family illness and every few days for next few months. Recovered ok despite that! Hoping for a calmer time afterwards this time.

@Absy I think I would have to have the assurance that an epidural would be available to me ASAP, I felt that the midwives were so reluctant in letting me get the epidural and it makes me extremely anxious that I may have to go through that again

Honestly I'd say elcs everytime but that's because my recovery was really easy and I know not everyone has that expirence. The way I decided was to write a list of pros and cons and take it from there also my friend telling me her clitorus ripped and took a year to heal sort of swayed my decision a little bit but for me, the third trimester hurt more than recovering from a elcs, if I had another baby I'd go elcs again x

It sounds like I had a very similar experience to you with my baby, failed induction, long labour then ended up in a c section anyway. Daughter is now 17 months and considering baby number 2 but I am going to go for an elective section. I can't take the risk again of being in labour for days, I was exhausted and starving and didn't really enjoy the moment of my daughter being born because I just wanted it all to be over. I know that next time I would rather just know what was happening to ease my anxiety and at least I wouldn't have to be away from DD1 for days if labour went the way it did the first time. Totally personal choice though, my husband works away for weeks at a time so I know that having a date booked would be easier in that respect too. Plus he would then get six weeks off so that would cover most of the recovery time I would need. If I didn't have that guaranteed support then I might feel differently.

I had an elective cesarean with breech twins. It was a really chilled out procedure overall. Was a bit rushed at 1st as they couldn't find a second doctor, then they did so it was all go go go. I had heavy blood loss so was kept in recovery for over 8 hours but I was up walking within 12 and felt fine the next day with no need for painkillers. My midwife has said I will be offered one this time, I'm not sure what way to go atm. I have big babies (our biggest was 10lb12oz) so scar rupture is a worry for me, I see the consultant in 2 weeks so will see what they recommend.

DC1 was an EMCS after failed induction - it took 6 days and was utterly awful. DC2 was an ELCS and it was absolutely right for me. The recovery was much better that time - partly knowing what to expect/being prepared and partly being much more relaxed and well rested in the run up.

The stats would've swung it if I'd had any doubts - I found some articles outlining risks for various things based on age and experience with earlier births, I just wish the consultant or midwife had been upfront rather than pushing a VBAC.

I've had both and based on my personal experience would recommend an ECS.

Thanks a lot everyone. I'm 95% sure I'll be going for an elective c section. My sister in law had a vbac and has told me that if she could go back in time she'd have an elective c section, and you seem to be echoing this ❤️

@Chelyanne do you have a preference either way? My sister also has big over 10lb babies

I had an emcs with DD1 similar story to yours after a long labour and failed induction. DD2 was born in October 2020 when DD1 was 16 months. I also has the option and opted for the c section, my reasons were fear of having the same long labour ending in section anyway, covid and not being able to have partner until established labour, knowing what to expect and the control aspect with regards childcare etc.

I found the elective section birth 100x better than the emcs. It was calm, stress free and I'd had 8 hours sleep so felt refreshed. Me and my husband were even chatting about names in surgery. The recovery was tough, similar to the emcs. DH had to do everything for the first week and the pain, whilst manageable was intense. I asked to stay in hospital 2 night's as I was sent back after 24 hours with DD1 and I didn't want that knowing I'd have a 16 month old to look after too. So I stayed in while I established feeding (much to the annoyance pf tje midwives as they wanted the bed!). Obviously I couldn't life DD1 for a few weeks and had to take it very easy. I kept her with her childminder abd DH did everything else for her...baths etc. After about 3/4 weeks I was much more active and felt ok. My stomach is pretty much gone, as I have a horrid shelf but hopefully over time that will improve. If I had to choose again, I would still opt for the c section because of the lovely birth. Good luck and any questions just ask xx

*lift DD1

Ds was a emcs after a week of labour and I wasn’t induced but did have the drip. He was too big to exit and dp demanded the cs.
With my second I booked a cs. It was scheduled for 39+1 but I started at 38 +2. I swore I would make it to my pre op and my early labour would last for days again. I was pushing when I should have been in my pre op appointment. It was a bloody hard labour and I didn’t have an epidural as I left it far too late and if I had of had one it would have ended up an assisted birth. The recovery was a doddle despite the episiotomy. If I have a third it will be VBAC again unless induction is mentioned then it would be cs.

Tried for a vbac with dd 2. It ended up failing to progress, baby became distressed and ended up with another emergency section. Her blood sugar was very low and ended up being formula fed as I was too unwell to feed her. It was all quite traumatic, just like my first birth. With hindsight I wish I had booked an elective section.

Thankyou so much @Frazzled99! My
Daughter has an amazing childminder who I'd probably send her to for a week. I also like the idea of getting a deep clean whilst I'm in hospital and coming home to a clean house. Basically the total opposite to the experience with DD! I will also be banning any visitors for as long as I can get away with 😂

Sorry to hear this @LouLou198, Thankyou for sharing, this is what I want to avoid

@HotCupOfNo

Thankyou so much *@Frazzled99*! My Daughter has an amazing childminder who I'd probably send her to for a week. I also like the idea of getting a deep clean whilst I'm in hospital and coming home to a clean house. Basically the total opposite to the experience with DD! I will also be banning any visitors for as long as I can get away with 😂

To be totally honest, she's still with her childminder now! What with covid and No where to go and no family support I decided to keep her there as she loves it, I get a break with the new baby and it keeps her CM space for when I go back to work.

Oh yes, defo get a cleaner. I booked one for day of my c section, my mum let her in so I came back to a clean and tiny house and all fresh bedding, best idea ever!

I was also lucky in a way that she was born the week before lockdown 2, so it was actually illegal to have visitors....great excuse!

ELCS with my second, absolutely no regrets. I had decided this would be my last baby, which informed my choice (risks increase after 2 c sections and I was advised that a vbac would not be an option for any future pregnancies). Good luck whatever you choose!

I had an emcs with my first and was encouraged to have a VBAC with my second. I was very frightened the same issues would happen again but the VBAC said no pregnancy or labour is the same. I went for it but unfortunately the same issues happened again and I ended up with another emcs which was distressing. The surgeon who delivered my second said I would never have been able to deliver naturally. I went onto to have 2 elective sections and they were so much better and recovery was quicker. I regret not pushing for or choosing an elective for my second.

I had a long labour after being induced with DS. Ended up with emergency c section. The recovery wasn’t too bad but I felt really cheated out of having the birth that I had dreamed of. Despite that I’ve booked for and elective. I think the risk of going through all that and ending up with a section anyway terrifies me. Also my closest friends have all had horror birth stories. The fact I can be really organised and also that I won’t go 2 weeks over again makes me feel much calmer. Although I am really scared of being very aware this time. Last time I was so exhausted and drugged I barely knew what was happening by the time I was in theatre

That's interesting @glomerulus - this will likely be my last child too!